Sprinkler



Jan. 14, 1941. J. H. wlLsoN 2,228,428

SPRINKLER Filed Jan. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l -nllllm .707Ln Jl Wilson,

Jan. 14, 1941. 1 J. H. WILSN 2,228,428

SPRINKLER Filed Jan. 4. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

,Toh/r, .HWLisow PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLER John n. wilson, North -Plattte,"1\en rf, 'l Application January 4, 1940, Serial No. 312,431

s claims. (c1. '29d-50i This invention relates to an automotive sprinkler.v Y An object of the invention is the pro-vision of a sprinkler which is driven along ar definite path on a lawn by means of power developed from the pres'sure of water which is sprayed over the lawn throughrevolvirg arms, the body "of the sprinkler being 'cast with fa central passage to? conduct water from a hose to a motor including the revolving arms, the sprinkler beingV guided along the de nite path by a groovedwheel supported at the forward end of the body which moves over the hoseV that supplies the water.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an automotive sprinkler which ispmoved alcng`a definite path on a lawn by a ltoothed wheel operated by a water motor supported -by a body which has a guidinglwheel at the forward end, spacedarms being provided for maintaining the body in an upright position when the body l is guided around a curved path with flanges projecting from the body for maintaining the hose in line with the propelling wheel atvthe rear end of the sprinkler when the sprinkler is moved around a curve.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in View of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it isto be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define vno material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure lis a view in side elevation o-f a sprinkler constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a'plan view of the same.

Figure`3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in elevation o the modified form of the power wheel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I0 designates a body which is cast in one piece as shown more particularly in Figure 3 and this body is provided with a horizontal conduit II which extends from the rear end to approximately the center thereof. The rear end of the body is provided with a nipple I2 in line with the conduit Il and to this nipple is connected a flexible hose I3 of the usual construction.

The inner end of the conduit opens into a down turned passage' I'4 which is4 ordinarily closed by a plug I5 so'that when the plug is removed the conduit II may .be'cle'anedv asdesired. The inte-` rior of ahollow post IS'may bevr'eached through the opening I4. l' y The forwardrpart o the body I0 is reduced in size and is provided with a horizontally disposed fiat` portion I1 and an upwardly curved' portion I8. A depending ange I9 is formed between the intersection of: the flat-portion: II and thel curved member I8.' j

A handle 20 is securedin'an approvedmanner -as' shown at 2I to the curve'd portion I8 while the opposite end of the handle as shown at 22 is secured lto the top ofthe'flat portion l1. y

Theforward end of the curved member I8 is provided'with a vertical Apassage 23 which receives a pintle 24 formed at the upper end of a fork 25. A-pin .26 maintains the'pintlecin position on the end of the member 'I8'.` However, a nutland'washer may' be employed for the'purpose. A groovedwheel 30 is mounted upon an axle 3I'which is supported by the lower ends of the arms of the yoke 25.' AvThis grooved wheel is adapted to ride over .a length 'of the hose I3'for. guiding' the" sprinkler along a definite pathon the lawn. A transverse bar 32`is secured `in any approved manner' as by screws" or bolts 33 to the'top of the flat portion II. lRe'arW'ardly inclined'y arms 34 depend from the ends of the bar 32 upon opposite sides of the dat portionI I'I andthe lower ends of these arms are curved yrearwardly as shown at'35. `The'curved portions 35 act as runners 'to engage the ground when the sprinkler is being carried around a curved path Vto prevent the sprinkler from falling to one side. 'A pair of plates 36 located at each side of the body member and secured' in any-approved manner as by bolts 31 to the side fianges 38 depending from the oppcsite'side edges of the fiat portion I1 'areV adapted tor engage 4the hose I3` when the sprinkler' is being moved through-'a curved path for aiding in maintaining the body member and likewise-the spaced power whe'els'ydl) and 4I in alinement with: the hose.r The plates 36 depend sufficiently belowfthe 'lower edge ofthe kbody member in order to engage the hose rduring the turning movement of'the'sprinkler. A pair ofA brackets 42 may' be cast integrally with the ybody`IIl, arelo'cated 'in'spaced relation and extend' forwardly of the hollow post I6. These -bracketsf'are provided with-bearings for supporting' a'shaft ,43v to which is secured in any approved manner Ta gear vM f This gear.. meshes with a worm 45 provided with a left handed thread and secured to` the outer face of the hollow post I6 so that when the post is revolved the worm will rotate the gear 44 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3.

The post l5 at its lower end is provided with a flange 45 where the post communicates with the conduit Il. The upper end of the post is mounted in a bearing 4l formed at the upper end of the brackets 42. A grease cup 48 supplies lubricant to the bearing 4l. The brackets 42 and bearing 41 may be cast separately from the body and connected thereto in any approved manner.

Referring more particularly to Figure 4 it will be seen that a T 50 is threaded at 5l to the upper end of the hollow post I5. The outer ends of hollow legs 52 of the T are internally threaded to receive plugs 53 which are adapted to force the anged ends 54 on the inner ends of the hollow arms 55 against curvedY seats 55 formed at the inner portion of the internally threaded members 52. These plugs 53 not only secure the arms 55 in position but they seal the inner ends of the arms against the loss` of fluid where these `arms join the members 52. The outer ends of these arms 55, as shown in Figure 2, are curved at 51 with a nozzle 58 at each end of the arm for directing the water outwardly therefrom. When the water under pressure is forced from the nozzles 58 these arms will be revolved as will be the post I6 so that the worm gear 45 will revolve the gear 44 for aA purpose which will be presently explained.

On the rear of the body member I0 is mounted an axle 5i] upon which are rigidly mounted the pair of wheels 4i) and 4I. rIhe outer periphery of each wheel is formed with teeth 6| which engage the ground so that when these wheels are revolved the sprinkler will be propelled forwardly.

The wheel 40, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with an internal set of teeth 62 which are adapted to be engaged by a pawl E3 pivotally mounted at 54 on a lever 65 which has its lower end pivotally mounted on the axle BD. The pawl is provided with a weight 65 for maintaining the pawl in engagement with the teeth 62 at all times. A link 31 has one end pivotally connected at 68 with the upper end of the lever 65 while the other end of the link is pivotally connected to an eccentric pin E9 carried by an arm 'm' which is rigid with the shaft 43.

The wheel 4I is also provided with an internal set of teeth as shown at 'H which are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 'I2 pivotally mounted at 'i3 upon a lever 14 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the axle 60. The pawl 'l2 is provided with a weight 'l5 which maintains the pawl in engagement with the teeth 'H at all times. y

One end of a link 'i5 is pivotally connected at 'Vi with the upper end of the lever 14. The other end of the link is pivotally connected to an eccentric pin 18 carried by an arm 'I9 which is secured to the shaft 43. It will be noted that the arm 'i0 is locatedl at one side of the gear 44 while the arm I9 is located at the other side. The ends of the arms 1D and 19 are located approximately diametrically opposite.

In Figure 5 is shown a modied form of the wheels 40 and 4| in which the internal teeth 52 and 1l respectively of the wheels 40 and 4I are omitted and in this case the teeth 8U of the wheel 40a are so constructed that they will be engaged by a pawl 8| pivotally mounted at 82 at the upper end of the lever 65a which is pivotally mounted on the axle 60. A spring 83 is employed for maintaining the pawl 8l in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 45a. One end of the link 61a is pivotally connected at 84 to the lever 65a. The other end of the link is adapted to be connected to the eccentric pin 69 on the arm '10.

A link is pivotally connected with the lever 'Ma similar to the connection between the link 'l5 and the lever 'I4 as shown in Figure 3. One end of the link 85 is adapted to be connected to the pin 'I8 of the arm 'I9 and a pawl 8m similar to the pawl 8| is adapted to be pivotally connected to the lever 14a so that it will engage the teeth 80a for causing rotation of a toothed wheel 4 la which is located in parallel relation with the wheel 40a at the opposite sides of the body.

In other words, the only difference between the construction shown in Figure 5 and that shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, is that the pawls engage the teeth Si! and 85a of the power wheels Mia and 45a instead of the pawls engaging teeth formed inwardly and concentrically with respect to the teethl as shown in Figures l to 4, inelusive.

The operation of the `device is as follows: A hose I3 is laid along a definite path on the lawn and the grooved wheel 35 is placed over the hose and the spaced wheels 4i! and 4I engage opposite sides of the hose.

When the water is turned on and it issues from the nozzles 58 the arms 55 will be revolved as will be the post iii, the worm 45 and the gear dit. Rotation of the gear .directly indicated in Figures 1 and 3 will cause oscillation of the links 5l and 'I5 so that the respective pawls 63 and 'l2 by their engagement with the respective teeth 52 and ll will cause rotation of the toothed wheels 40 and 4l, whereby the sprinkler will be moved along a path as determined by the posil tion of the hose.

When the sprinkler travels around a curved path the grooved wheel 30 will follow the hose and if the sprinkler tilts too much to one side of the hose one of the curved members 35 on the arm til will engage the ground and prevent the sprinkler from falling to one side. At this time the spaced plates 35 will engage the hose and aid maintaining the body of the sprinkler along the curved path so that the spaced wheels 4t and ll will also be maintained in alinement with the hose.

The construction shown in Figure 5 operates in a similar manner except that the pawls operated by the levers 55a and 'Ma will engage the teeth at the periphery of their respective wheels, causing the wheels to be revolved and thus propel the sprinkler along a definite path.

The water in this sprinkler enters the hollow post I5 by way of the conduit l! formed in the body lll from the hose i3.

I claim:

l. An automotive sprinkler comprising a horizontal body provided with a core forming a conduit, a hollow post having the lower end projecting through the body and terminating in one end of said conduit, a. worm secured to the post resting on the upper face of the body for supporting the post on the body, means for supplying the lconduit with water under pressure, a combined sprayer and motor connected with the upper end of the hollow post and receiving water under pressure from said post for causing rotation of the post, traction wheels supported at one end of the body, operative connections between the worm and traction Wheels, a guide wheel swvelly mounted on the other end of the body, curved arms projecting from opposite ends of the body for engaging the ground to prevent falling of the sprinkler when rounding a curve.

2. An automotive sprinkler comprising a horizontal body provided with a core forming a conduit, a hollow post having the lower end projectingthrough the body and terminating in one end of said conduit, a Worm secured to the post resting on the upper face of the body for supporting the post on the body, means for supplying the conduit with water under pressure, a combined sprayer and motor connected with the upper end of the hollow post and receiving Water under pressure from said post for causing rotation of the post, traction wheels supported at one end of the body, operative connections between the worm and traction wheels, and a guiding wheel swivelly mounted on the other end of the body, means cooperating with the grooved wheel for guiding the body along a definite path, and means depending from the body and engageable with the guiding means for maintaining the traction wheel in line with the path of the grooved Wheel.

3. An automotive sprinkler comprising a horizontal body provided With a core forming a conduit, a hollow post having the lower endy projecting through the body and terminating in one end of said conduit, a worm secured to the post resting on the upper face of the body for supporting the post on the body, means for supplying the conduit with water under pressure, a combined sprayer and motor connected with the upper end of the hollow post and receiving water under pressure from said post for causing rotation of the post, traction wheels supported at one end ofthe body, operative connections between the worm and traction wheels, a guiding wheel swivelly mounted on the other end of the body, a bar secured transversely of the body, curved arms depending from the opposite ends of the bars and adapted to. engage the ground when the sprinkler tilts to prevent the sprinkler from tilting too far.

JOI-IN H. WILSON. 

